How Hong Kong horse riding charity’s equine therapy helps people with disabilities

From auspicious horse-themed phrases and couplets to whether your luck is in, check out our Year of the Horse 2026 series to discover all you need to know about the coming Lunar New Year.\nThe horses are in their element as they run and roll around the spacious indoor sand arena nestled in a peaceful corner of Hong Kong’s Pok Fu Lam neighbourhood.\nThe space is part of the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Pokfulam Public Riding School, which this year completed a three-year, HK$375 million (US$48 million) renovation.\nThe Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA), a charity that teaches riding skills to disabled children and adults, operates at the state-of-the-art facility. The association also has schools in Tuen Mun and Lei Yue Mun in Hong Kong.\nFounded in 1975 by Lady MacLehose, the wife of the then Hong Kong governor Murray MacLehose, the RDA – which this year celebrates its 50th anniversary – offers equine therapy for those with mental or physical disabilities.\n\nInstructor Joelle Scott watches the horses. She started working with the RDA 30 years ago and is passionate about the welfare of the animals, speaking about them as though they were her children.\n“That is Roxy and Rosie,” she says, pointing out two of the horses as she gives a tour of the upgraded stables. “They are absolute superstars and will let anybody sit on them. They’re patient, calm and kind.”\nScott then introduces another horse, Daisy, who she says is also very well behaved. “When a child is on Daisy’s back, she’s as good as gold – she’s very playful.”\nToby, a new arrival – most horses come from England and Ireland around the age of four or five – “is settling in well”, Scott says.\nKnowing each horse – there are currently 23 in the RDA programme, 10 of them in Pok Fu Lam – is vital as each one is carefully selected for its temperament and trained for specific roles that best match a rider.\nDuring her time with RDA, Scott, who was born and raised in Canada, has seen a shift in the type of disabilities riders live with.\n“Most of the challenges that we saw 30 years ago were physical – kids with spina bifida and Down’s syndrome,” she says. “Now we’re seeing an increase in kids with mental disabilities, particularly autism.”\n\nRiding is widely recognised as one of the most beneficial forms of therapy for disabled people, and “is far more than just time on a horse”, Scott says.\n“Riders gain improved balance, coordination and muscle tone, while also building confidence, focus and emotional resilience,” she says.\nThe RDA’s sessions are designed to challenge each rider at their own pace.\n“Every element is tailored, from the horse chosen to the exercises used, so that each participant can progress safely and meaningfully,” Scott says.\n“Goal-setting is reviewed weekly with our team of volunteers to ensure riders are moving forward. Some respond best to music or games, while others prefer a quiet, calm atmosphere, and we adapt accordingly to meet each rider’s needs.”\nMany riders arrive with limited mobility or confidence, often feeling isolated, Scott says. For a child with a physical disability, even sitting upright can be challenging.\n“After therapy, we see remarkable changes: greater independence, joy and self-esteem, and in many cases, a new sense of belonging within the community,” she says. “You can see positive changes after about six sessions.”\n\nScott has seen incredible things happen.\n“I have witnessed the magic of the horse’s gentle nature,” Scott says. “I have heard the first words spoken to a pony from a child who had been non-verbal their whole life. I have watched children become strong when they previously couldn’t hold themselves upright.”\nShe adds that one of the most common misconceptions people have about horse therapy is that it is simply recreational.\n“It’s actually a structured rehabilitation method. Every session is designed with therapeutic goals in mind, and the benefits are measurable both physically and psychologically,” she says.\nTherapeutic riding is effective for people of all ages and across many different disabilities.\n“In Hong Kong, we place particular focus on children and young adults with physical disabilities, developmental delays or learning challenges,” Scott says.\n“Everyone benefits, whether it’s improved confidence, greater mobility or enhanced emotional well-being.”\nAs with any non-profit organisation, volunteers are vital: they are the backbone of RDA, Scott says.\n“They lead horses, assist riders during sessions, and help with essential tasks such as fundraising and event support.\n“Their dedication ensures that every rider can participate safely and meaningfully, and without them, the programme simply could not operate.”\nIn a full-circle moment, former student Chi Tat returned to RDA to volunteer and has become known as something of a horse whisperer.\n“He’s a kind and gentle soul, and the horses love him,” Scott says. “We always give him the most challenging horse, and they don’t put a foot wrong with him.”\n\nHorses’ instinct as prey and herd animals makes them uniquely suited for working with people with disabilities.\nThese traits result in a high degree of sensitivity, empathy and responsiveness to human emotions and body language, creating a powerful therapeutic environment.\nAs prey animals, they are hyper-vigilant and highly sensitive to their surroundings, including human micro-expressions, posture, breath and energy levels. This sensitivity means horses provide an immediate, non-verbal response to a person’s emotional state.\nScott says witnessing this special bond develop between a rider and a horse is heart-warming.\n“What I love about horses is that when we bring the kids around them, they are so gentle with them. They understand that they need extra care.\n“I have seen every child benefit from our therapy and have seen big changes in their behaviour and in their confidence. They become less anxious because a horse is able to calm them.”\nFor details about the RDA, visit its website here.\n